On the second day after the Yue family's mass funeral, a giant bird with pitch-black feathers flew over the capital of Chong Hua. The bird looked like an eagle, but other than its wings, its entire body was covered in white fur. No one knew how this strange bird entered the country, but it flapped its wings and soared into the clouds. It was so fast that even the fastest blademaster couldn't catch up to it.
After circling the capital once, the strange bird turned into a black gust of wind and disappeared into the clouds. Following that, a torrential downpour fell on the capital for three whole days.
When the rain stopped, many people suddenly fell ill. After the medicine cultivators of Shennongtai examined them one by one, they came to a chilling conclusion.
Demonic energy.
Every single one of those people had been infected with demonic energy. Chong Hua cultivators didn't cultivate demonic energy, so they couldn't control the miasma. Although Shennongtai was able to purify it, it was a drop in the bucket. There were too many people who were infected, and many of them died before Shennongtai could treat them. Some didn't die, but they went mad.
The cultivators who had seen the Nine-Eyed Zither on the battlefield all began to speculate that the strange bird was a demonic beast released from one of the Nine-Eyed Zither's eyes.
Others said that it was a new demonic bird that Liao had refined, and that it could summon clouds and rain, causing those who came into contact with the rain to be infected by demonic energy.
There were many different opinions, and for a time, everyone was in a state of panic.
The emperor frowned because of this, but Jiang Fuli and Meng Ze weren't in the capital at this time. Jiang Fuli had yet to return from her travels, while Meng Ze had recently gone to the Hot Spring Palace in another city to recuperate. Although there were other medicine cultivators in the capital, the situation was too sudden, and they had never encountered an illness like this before. As a result, those medicine cultivators were extremely busy, but they still couldn't make ends meet.
Gu Mang was also affected by the torrential downpour, but he was doing his best to restrain himself and not let himself go out of control.
The situation between Chong Hua and Chong Hua grew more and more dangerous with each passing day. Finally, one day, Chen Bu of Liao's army gathered at the border of Chong Hua, choosing the shortest and most unusual route to attack the capital.
Faced with such a precarious situation, the Imperial Court was in chaos. Some people said that they should rush to the frontlines and take the initiative to fight. Some people said that they should use this opportunity to strengthen the defenses of the imperial city. There were even people who sighed at this time, complaining that the imperial city was built too close to Burning Country. In order to reduce the losses, they suggested abandoning the city and moving the capital.
These people were usually like embroidered pillows. The heavy rain had soaked the grasses in their houses, and the stench had spread to the outside.
Furthermore, he said with conviction, "If that strange bird appears again and infects the cultivators with diseases, how are we going to fight this war?"
"Let's retreat first. Where there's life, there's hope."
"Perhaps that strange bird is a new Bloodsucking Scourge that they have refined. Wouldn't it be impossible for them to win if they were to clash directly? At the very least, we need to develop an antidote that can expel the disease before we can confront the Liao Country. Otherwise, we will be wasting our combat power. "
The group of people all had their own opinions. It was as if countless heads had popped out from the body of a monster, and they were all barking and biting at each other. The Emperor had a splitting headache from the noise. He was unable to solve the problem of the Demonic Energy Plague, so he could only write letters to urge Jiang Fuli, who was free somewhere, to return to the city.
On the eighth day, Apothecary Jiang finally received the letter and rushed back to the imperial city.
After three days of seclusion, the antidote was finally developed.
Coincidentally, on this day, the Blue Pass sent a report of victory. They said that they had defeated the Burning Country's army and temporarily retreated to the north of the Phoenix River. The Imperial Court was quite relieved. The Emperor wanted to celebrate the victory, distribute the antidote, and discuss the strategy for the war. Thus, he sent a message to all the Emperors in the imperial city. Tonight, he would set up a banquet in the imperial palace's Throne Room.
Mo Xi originally did not want to go to this banquet. He loathed the Emperor to the extreme. The reason why he did not go and settle the score with the Emperor was because the country was in turmoil. There were internal and external troubles. Moreover, Gu Mang's health was very poor recently. After the incident at the Muddy Sky Cave, their plan to go to Lin 'an to find a Spirit Realm cultivator had been delayed.
He was worried about Gu Mang's health, but he did not feel at ease letting other people treat him. Coincidentally, Meng Ze was not in the imperial city. He heard that right after they left, Meng Ze fell ill and had to go to the Hot Spring Palace to recuperate.
Thus, since Jiang Fuli would also appear at the banquet and bring the antidote for the Demonic Energy, Mo Xi thought about it and decided to bring Gu Mang along.
Wearing a mask was a little stuffy after all. When Gu Mang sat in the carriage, he pushed the mask up, revealing a pair of misty blue eyes. He rested his chin on his hand as he watched the swaying shadows of the lanterns outside the bamboo curtain. His other hand was playing with the small bamboo warrior that Murong Chuyi had left him.
Gu Mang had two treasures. One was this bamboo warrior, and the other was the brocade bag of unknown origin.
Mo Xi had been very concerned about this brocade bag since the first time he saw it in Luo Mei Garden. However, whether Gu Mang had recovered his divine sense or not, he had never told him the origin of this brocade bag. When he asked more, he could only say pitifully, "I don't have any impression of it. I can't remember at all. I only know that it is very important."
Every time Mo Xi saw his wronged expression, he could not say anything more. Later, he was even more unwilling to provoke him. He could only endure it and not let himself sulk when he saw the brocade bag.
Gu Mang later probably saw that he was unhappy, so he showed him the contents of the brocade bag. In fact, there was nothing rare in it. It was just a piece of pure white shell money. He did not know who wrote the word "fire" faintly on it.
"Did some fire-type magician give it to you?"
Gu Mang shook his head. He pursed his lips and muttered, "I just don't know." He put the shell money back and put the brocade bag away.
"I just feel that I like it very much. I can't throw it away."
And who was the one who gave it to him that made him like it so much that he couldn't let it go just like Murong Chuyi's Bamboo Warrior? It was still an unsolved mystery until now.
When they arrived at the throne room, most of the aristocrats had already arrived. However, it still seemed deserted.
Mo Xi had attended many Chong Hua banquets. He rarely saw a scene as bleak as tonight. Needless to say, Yue Chenqing did not attend the banquet. Princess Meng Ze's seat was also empty. There was also Wangshu Mansion …
Looking at the Murong Lian's seat, Mo Xi did not know what to feel. From what he had seen and heard in Lin 'an, he already knew that the Murong Lian was Gu Mang's other elder brother. Their blood relationship was even closer than the Murong Chuyi. However, the Murong Lian and the Murong Chuyi were not the same. He was like a floating dream that he had drawn himself, blown away by the wind and scattered into mist.
No one could figure out what he was thinking.
From childhood to adulthood, the Murong Lian had bullied and tortured Gu Mang. He even threw Gu Mang into the Falling Plum Garden to humiliate him after he returned to the city. It seemed that the more he suppressed Gu Mang, the more he would feel at ease. However, when Gu Mang was really in danger, he was unwilling. He would save him even if he had to die.
The nobles around were whispering to each other.
"Hey, have you heard? The Lord Wangshu seems to be dying. "
"Really? Didn't the Lord already send the best cultivators from Shennongtai to treat him? How could he still … "
"He's been hanging on by a thread. The Lord is also doing his best for him."
"Other than the Lord, who would care about him? He's so unpopular."
The red-painted banquet table was empty. Mo Xi suddenly remembered that after Madam Zhao's death, the Murong Lian no longer had anyone close to him. He seemed to have hundreds of people responding to his call, but in fact, those who supported him were just relying on his servants or his subordinates who were afraid of him.
He did not know what Gu Mang meant to the Murong Lian.
The banquet started. The Lord and Jiang Fuli came out from the back room together. Jiang Fuli had been wandering outside for a long time and seemed to have become more simple. Probably because the country's fate was in danger, he was not as rebellious as usual. Instead, he stood quietly beside the Lord. His green robe was loose, and his wide sleeves were hanging down. His eyes were lowered, and he looked calm and reliable.
"One of the reasons I called you here today is to give you the antidote. The other reason is that I hope you can come up with a solution." The Lord sat down on the gilded Phoebe zhennan chair. "As for those who retreated without a fight."
He looked up gloomily. "If anyone wants to say it, there's no need to say it."
The few dove ministers looked at each other silently with drooping eyelids.
The Lord took in the undercurrent and sneered. "You're still giving each other looks? The reason you wanted to retreat before was that the demonic miasma was hard to get rid of. I thought so too. But now that Pharmacist Jiang has refined the antidote, you still want to retreat. Are you that scared? "
An old nobleman trembled. "My Lord, the Liao Kingdom broke their promise and used the forbidden technique. Their intention was to take back the last remnant soul of the Demonic Blood Beast. Actually, we can do something to the remnant soul of the Demonic Blood Beast and return it to the Liao Kingdom. This way, they won't have to send their army to fight to the death with us. As for the Demonic Blood Beast, the Liao Kingdom won't be able to restore it because we damaged it. This way, the war can drag on for another eight to ten years … "
The Lord laughed. "What's the point of dragging on for another eight to ten years?"
"Well, anything is possible in eight to ten years. The Chong Hua can find a way to interrupt their plan to revive the Demonic Blood Beast. It can also study the immortal beast catalog left by Palace Master Chen and refine an immortal beast to fight against them. In short, I think that the Chong Hua is at its weakest now. It's not a good idea to fight against a rock with an egg. I hope that my Lord will reconsider. "
The Lord laughed. "Lord Yu Shu, I don't think that eight to ten years is to give the Chong Hua time to prepare. It's to give you time to retire, right? Look at your age. After eight to ten years, it's about time for you to retire. After you pass away, who cares about the flood? "
The Lord Yu Shu's heart was pierced by the Lord. His expression changed, but he still insisted. "My Lord, the heavens can be my witness.
The Lord was still smiling, but there was no smile in his eyes. "En, drag him away."
"My Lord!"
The smile disappeared. The man on the throne looked extremely cold. It was as if his entire body was emitting a chill.
"I said, drag him away."
"Yes!"
"Doctor Jiang's antidote doesn't need to be left in the Yu Shu Residence." The Lord said indifferently. "If anyone wants to retire again, remove your armor and return to the fields as soon as possible. But of course, I won't give you the antidote. Whoever is willing to stand up for the Chong Hua and work for the people, I'll protect their lives. Just like Yu Shujun who wants to settle down in a corner and go home to farm … "
His eyes were cold, and his teeth were clenched.
"Then you'll have to pray for your own good fortune."
The antidote that could dispel the demonic aura and save lives was in the Lord's hands. For a moment, those who wanted to talk all shut their mouths.
Jun Shang's pair of eagle eyes looked around the entire main hall, and then he smiled again: "If you guys are always like this now, so uniform and obedient, then there will be hope for Chong Hua to unify the nine regions and bring peace to the four seas."
Mo Xi heard this and couldn't help but feel disgusted.
No matter what the Lord said, he would always talk about the happiness of the people and the well-being of the people. Even though he knew that the Lord's heart was unpredictable and that his words couldn't be completely true, he didn't know that he could be so hypocritical. In the end, the Lord's attitude towards the Black Demons wasn't one of "using", but of "coveting". Gu Mang had once risked so much pain to search for the Lord's techniques, so the Lord had probably coveted them for a long time.
Bringing peace to the four seas was fake. It was just a trick. It was a banner that he used to drive the loyal officials and heroes. Unifying the nine provinces was this man's true words.
Since no one wanted to retire for the time being, the Lord ordered Jiang Fuli to distribute the antidote in the brocade box to the owners of each residence. While waiting, Gu Mang sat beside Mo Xi, his blue eyes quietly following Jiang Fuli's movements.
"Why do you keep looking at him?"
Gu Mang said, "What did he distribute? Everyone seems to want it. "
Mo Xi explained, "It's medicine."
"Isn't the medicine very bitter?" Gu Mang frowned. "Why are they waiting to eat this … will we have it too?"
Mo Xi raised his hand and touched his head. "I'll find a way to get some sweet ones for you."
Seeing Gu Mang nodding with satisfaction, Mo Xi sighed in his heart and turned to look at Jiang Fuli who was distributing the medicine in the distance. He planned to wait until the banquet was over to talk to Pharmacist Jiang alone. He didn't know if there was any way to alleviate Gu Mang's illness.
Jiang Fuli was talking to Lord Changfeng. After the battle in the Muddy Sky Cave, Xiao Lan 'er had been in a coma. Her spiritual nucleus was taken away by Jiang Yexue and she was made into a puppet. Her small body had suffered too much. Lord Changfeng was full of regret. These days, he had been worried sick about his daughter's health. He pulled Jiang Fuli and kept saying something, but Jiang Fuli was always indifferent. She only replied with one or two sentences, and in the end, she just rolled up her sleeves and left.
However, while he was talking to Lord Changfeng, he accidentally dropped a small pill of exorcism medicine on the ground. Lord Changfeng obviously didn't get the answer he wanted. He was extremely sad and didn't care about his own life. He didn't care where the exorcism pill rolled to.
Jiang Fuli glanced at him and didn't want to talk to him. She picked up the medicine from the ground and pushed it back to the banquet table with her long fingers. Then, she turned around and went to the next table.
However, Mo Xi, who had witnessed the whole process, vaguely felt that something was wrong. Before he could figure out what was wrong, a creepy feeling crept up on him.
He stared at Jiang Fuli and couldn't see anything strange. However, he felt that something very important and very obvious was wrong. He just couldn't figure it out at the moment.
There was something wrong with Jiang Fuli. There was something very wrong. What exactly was it …
Just as he was frowning and thinking, he suddenly heard a cold voice outside the door of the Golden Imperial Hall.
"Put down the medicine in your hands. Don't eat it. "
Everyone was startled and looked towards the door in unison.
They saw a man in a royal blue robe slowly walking up the stairs. His eyes were like a fox's and his expression was tired. He looked very weak, but at least he could walk and his mind was clear.
Someone shouted in surprise, "Aiya, Lord Wangshu?!"
Who else could this man who was slowly walking over be the rumored Murong Lian whose life was hanging by a thread and who was seriously ill?
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